Bellamy: Wales' win over Norway has 'thrown a hand grenade' into Nations League group
Craig Bellamy said Wales' victory over Norway has "thrown a hand grenade" into their Nations League group as his side prepare to face Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday.
Bellamy, who took charge of Wales in July 2024 following the departure of Rob Page, said the Norway win has reshaped Group A4 despite Wales remaining bottom at the halfway point of the campaign. Wales are level on points with the World Cup quarter-finalists and Denmark, and Bellamy said a win on Sunday would be a big step towards avoiding a last-place finish and would boost their European Championship qualification hopes. He noted that if Wales finish the Nations League in third place or higher they will be a top seed in the December draw for Euro 2028 qualifying.
On the impact of the Norway result Bellamy said: "I don't know with the way the group's gone now because that [result] has thrown in a hand grenade." He added: "Basically, the group's exploded now between the three of us because, obviously, Denmark will look at it and say, well, they didn't expect that, so we all sit on three points apart from Portugal. "Portugal have run away with this, and they're going to win the group. Now can we really be in the mix with these two heavyweight Scandinavian teams? That's the aim. We'll see where that goes." He also said Portugal will win the group "unless a disaster happens." Sunday, 4 October, 19:45 BST Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary.
Wales came from behind to secure their first Nations League A victory across two campaigns, ending a six-match winless run that stretched back to November 2025. Bellamy acknowledged he had been through a "really difficult spell" after the game and described the Norway result as the most notable success of his tenure so far.
Selection issues will influence Bellamy's team for the Denmark game, with the manager saying he often makes significant changes regardless of recent results. Wales' options are limited in this window: Karl Darlow, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and Harry Wilson are absent and David Brooks returned to his club after the opening defeat in Portugal. On selection Bellamy said: "If I could pick the team that started the other night, [I would] all day. [But it is] just not possible. I would love to make it possible, but it isn't. One or two didn't come through it. So, not giving away the team, of course, but there will be one or two changes because we have to."
The Denmark match is the second meeting between the sides in seven days after Wales were beaten in Copenhagen last weekend. Bellamy said he "didn't recognise" his team in that defeat, adding: "That's not what we do and how we've been when we've been at our best. We were too disconnected from front to back. We didn't create the overloads. It was too easy for [Denmark] to press us. Five men could press seven of our players - that's impossible. We learned a lot; I learned a lot from Denmark." The Danish side are ranked 21st in the world.
Wales will meet Denmark in Cardiff on Sunday, 4 October, at 19:45 BST with live coverage on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and 5 Live, and via the BBC Sport website and app. A victory would move Wales closer to avoiding bottom spot in Group A4 and help their bid to finish third or higher to secure top-seed status in the Euro 2028 qualifying draw.
